Queen Elizabeth II is now the oldest living monarch in the world. She gained the title at 88 years old after the death of 90-year-old King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia on Friday.
"I am saddened to learn of the death of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, HM King Abdullah bin Abd Al Aziz,” the queen wrote to the Saudi Arabia’s new monarch, King Salman. "Your distinguished brother Abdullah had devoted his life to the service of the Kingdom and the service of Islam.”
Salman bin Abdul-Aziz, KIng Abdullah's half-brother and the country's deputy prime minister, became king immediately after his death. Abdullah died of pneumonia, state television reported.
The British Queen will turn 89 in April. She is older than Malaysian Sultan Abdul Halim and King Bhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, both 87. King Salman is 79.
If Queen Elizabeth is still on the throne on Sept. 9, she’ll surpass Queen Victoria’s record as the longest-reigning monarch in British history.
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